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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

STUDIO RIO PRESENTS THE BRAZIL CONNECTION

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of
Sony Music Entertainment, will release Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil
Connection, an innovative collection of 12 beloved vocal recordings
re-experienced through new samba and bossa nova arrangements created by iconic
Brazilian musicians and The Berman Brothers.
The perfect summer soundtrack party album, Studio Rio Presents: The
Brazil Connection includes first single, "Lovely Day (Studio Rio
Version)" by Bill Withers with Studio Rio and will be released just in
time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, scheduled for June 12th - July 13th.
Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection is available now at all digital
music providers; the 12" vinyl LP arrives on May 27th with a CD edition
following on June 23rd.

Tracks
from Studio Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection will be included throughout
ESPN's comprehensive coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, with multiple
songs from the album slated to soundtrack the network's multi-platform
presentation of the quadrennial tournament. In addition, the collection's "It's
Your Thing" (Studio Rio Version)" by The Isley Brothers with Studio
Rio is among the highlights included on Sony Music Entertainment's recently
released One Love, One Rhythm – The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Album.

Studio
Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection is the latest innovative musical project
from the award-winning production duo, the Berman Brothers (Frank and
Christian). The project saw the Berman Brothers seeking out the original
multi-track masters and then utilizing state-of-the-art separation technology
from Science of Sounds to extract exquisitely pristine and detailed
vocals. The newly isolated vocals were
then melded with brand-new, authentic backing arrangements played by Studio
Rio, an all-star cast of Brazilian musical pioneers from the bossa nova and
samba genres, including Latin GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award winner Roberto
Menescal and Brazilian musical legend Marcos Valle.

"Music
is the heart and soul of Brazil, celebrating with syncopated beats and
beautifully expressive melodies. It's the life force of the entire
culture," wrote the Berman Brothers in their notes for Studio Rio
Presents: The Brazil Connection.
"We have always had a huge appreciation of Brazilian music. Between
us, we have a massive collection of bossa nova and samba recordings, new and
old, a lot which we found in flea markets in Amsterdam, Paris, and London....
Once you get into this music, there really is no way to stop. It was this
joyful and timeless music that inspired the idea for this collection. Our goal
was to bring the Brazilian joie de vivre to iconic performances by well-known
American artists like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Isley
Brothers, and many others. What would these classic songs sound like had they
been recorded in the studios of Rio de Janeiro in the first place, with the
best Brazilian musicians and arrangers?"

"It
was an amazing journey—bringing together these American classics and the
vibrancy of Brazilian music with the help of so many talented musicians,
arrangers and a dedicated production team. We learned many things putting
together this music including what was the most important, and least surprising
lesson of all: Brazil is the most musical place we have ever been in our
lives."

The
Berman Brothers have a long history of coupling classic and contemporary sounds
from around the world, including Rhythms Del Mundo (2006), a cross-cultural
album summit which fused an all-star cast of Cuban musicians like Ibrahim
Ferrer and Omara Portuondo of the Buena Vista Social Club with US and UK
artists and superstars including U2, Coldplay, Sting, Jack Johnson, Maroon5,
Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and others. Rhythms del Mundo
was released in more than 61 countries and received multiple sales awards worldwide.

During
the past 20 years, the Berman Brothers have received more than 90 gold and
platinum awards, two BMI Awards, a GRAMMY® nomination (for "Love One
Another," recorded by Cher) and a place in history for their production
and remix of the Baha Men's colossal hit, "Who Let the Dogs
Out." As producers, writers and
publishers, the Bermans have worked with an array of international superstars
including Coldplay, Sting, Cher, Real McCoy, Dido, Maroon5, Sophie B. Hawkins,
Reamonn, and members of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

Studio
Rio Presents: The Brazil Connection

(COMPLETE
TRACKLISTING)

1. Bill
Withers with Studio Rio - Lovely Day

2.
Aretha Franklin with Studio Rio - Walk On By

3.
Marvin Gaye with Studio Rio - Sexual Healing

4.
Billie Holiday with Studio Rio - You've Changed

5. Sly
& The Family Stone with Studio Rio - Family Affair

6. The
Isley Brothers with Studio Rio - It's Your Thing

7. Mel
Torme with Studio Rio - I've Got You Under My Skin

8. Nina
Simone with Studio Rio – I Wish I Knew What It Means To Be Free